Printing control mechanism



May 5, 1942. w. LANG 2,282,067

PRINTING CONTROL MECHANISM Filed sept. zo, 1939 s sheets-sheet 1 FIG. 1. @4 /65 RTuuR PRENDERGAST BROADWAY New Yom( Nv y l2 D I] UD DI] l] [Il] l] l] I] I] [Il] I] I] DI] D IJUI] l] IJD DI] DI] [ID l] 's E E un a a a Q n u D n u E g a n a a a a n a n n e a n a a u vn a a EEUU n En En E iMay 5, 1942.

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W. LANG PRINTING CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NEN MMM"

BY if. M. MW

ATTORNEY May 5, 1942. w. LANG y 2,282,067

PRINTING CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

l lNVENTR KEY #MQW Patented May 5, 1942 PRINTING CONTROL MECHANTSM William Lang, New York, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New Yox, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 20, 1939, Serial No.' 295,717

1 Claim.

This is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 116,703, led December 19, 1936, (now Patent 2,195,865, issued April 2, 1940), and

the invention relates to record controlled ma-l chines and more particularly to machines controlled by perforated record cards of the Hollerith type.

'Ihe principal object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved form 'of sensing means for a record card `having increased data receiving capacity. s

A more specific object of the invention is to provide improved means for interpreting data representing perforations in my improved record card, said means being in readily applicable form for use in connection with commercial tabulating, printing, sorting, and like accounting machines.

A still further object is to provide means for sensing both entries in a column of a card during a single transit of the column by a sensing station and controlling two separate printing devices, each in accordance with a different one of the two entries.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, one or all of the columns of a Hollerith record card may be doubly punched, once to represent a letter of the alphabet or a digit, and a second time to represent -another digit.

The well known Hollerith card usually has alphabetic characters represented thereon by a two-hole code punching, one being made in the l1, or 12 index point positions known as the zone positions and the second in one of the digit indexv point positions 1 to 9. Thus, the letter A is represented by holes in the 12 and 1 positions. If it is desired to enter a digit, say. 3, in the column, a hole is punched in the 3 index point position.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, and the invention also constitutes certain new and useful features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

'I'he invention will be described to show how it may be applied to a printing machine, but it v will be apparent that it may with equal facility be attached to other forms of accounting and statistical machines.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the double-punched record card.

Fig. 2 is a section through the card feeding mechanism of an accounting machine showing the special brushes for sensing the card of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the brush sensing stations of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a central section of the printing mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a portion of a record printed under control of the double-punched card.

Fig. 6 is a circuit-diagram of the invention.

Fig. 'I is a diagram showing the timing of the contacts shown in Fig. 6.

The printing mechanism will rst be described to explain the manner in which it is controlled and operated when only a single character is entered in a card column after which it will be set forth how, with the use of the devices constituting the invention. two characters punched in a single column may be concurrently sensed to concurrently control two separate type bars.

g'o The printing mechanism may be of any suitable form, but for convenience may be assumed to be substantially identical with the one described in Patent No. 2,016,682, granted to A, W. 4Mills, October 8, 1935. 4It includes the usual platen l0 (Fig. 4) and a number of vertically movable type bar assemblies including carriers I2, slidably mounted on each of which are type heads I3. The purpose of this type of construction will be explained more fully hereinafter. Each type head has type elements I4 adapted to print the numerals 1 to 9 and the letters A to Z. The type elements I4 are arranged in nine groups in the following order from top to bottom in Fig. 4:9, I, R, Z; 8, H, Q, Y; 7, G, P, X; 6, F, O, W; 5, E, N, V; 4, D, M, U; 3, C, L, T; 2, B, K, S; 1, A, J. Below the type elements I 4 are two zero type elements Ha, Hb referred to hereinafterI as the numeral zero and the alphabetic zero, respectively, which are separated from each other 40 by a distance equal to that between centers of three successive type elements I4. 'I'he numerical type elements I4 correspond to the usual numerical type elements of a conventional Hollerith type bar, but are spaced far enough apart to make room for three alphabetic type elements between successive numeral type elements.

The numeral type elements are selected for a printing operation in identically the same mannerv as in. conventional Hollerith tabulating ma' 5o chimes, for instance, as in Patent' No. 1,822,594

under control of a perforation in one of the index point positions 1 to 9 of a record card column. The alphabetic type elements are selected under control of combinations of perforations, each of which may comprise a perforation in one oi.' the pivoted at 25.

' cured to arms 22.

index point positions 0, 11, and 12, with another in the remaining nine index point positions; thus, the letter I of the type group is selected by the combination of a 9 perforation and a 12 perforation in one of the columns of the record card; the letter R by a 9 perforation and an 1l perforation. rIhe entire code is similarly arranged and the particular combinations are as set forth in Patent No. 2,053,243, granted to A, W. Mills on September 1, 1936.

'I'he selection of the alphabetic type elements I4 is effected by arresting each carrier I2 in the appropriate position corresponding to the value of a perforation in index point positions 1 to 9 of the record card and by further movement of 15 the type head I3 relative to its carrier one, two, or three steps according to whether the other perforation of the combination necessary for a selection is in the 12, 11 or 0 positions, respectively.

As a matter of convenience, the four positions of the type elements in each group are termed zones I, 2, 3, and 4, the numeral type being in zone I, the letters A to I being in zone 2, the letters J to R. in zone 3, and the letters Sto Z in zone 4. The 0, l1, and 12 perforatlons which control the selection of the alphabetic type elements are termed zone perforations. The mechanism which effects relative movement between each carrier I2 and its type head I3 may be termed the zoning mechanism,

Each carrier I2 is provided with a series of stops I5v which represent the corresponding index point positions 0 to 9 on the record card. As the carrier I2 is moved upwardly, the stops I5 'move in succession to pass a stopping pawl I6.

The latter is held in the position of Fig. 4 by a latch llwhich has connection I6 with armature I9 of the usual printing magnet 26.

When a type carrier is used to print numerals only, it will, of course, be controlled by a single perforation in one of the index point positions 0 to 9, inclusive. In such case, each type head I3 and its carrier I2 is maintained iii the relationship shown in Fig. 4, and as the card is passing the lower analyzing brushes, a circuit com-- pleted through the perforation in the card will energize the magnet 20 in a well known manner and will effect the release of pawl I6, causing it to engage the stop I5 corresponding in value to the location of the single perforation in the record card column. This operation results in bringing the corresponding numeral type element in the type head I3 to the printing line.

The carriers I2 are moved upwardly by a cam operated shaft 2I which carriesA arms 22 having depending link connection 23 with a bail 24 Also pivoted at 26 are actuating arms 26 which are connected at their free ends to the lower extremity of carriers I2 through link connections 21. Arms 26 are urged in a'clockwise direction by springs 26 which are connected at their upper ends to a cross bar se- Thus, as the arms 22 and bail 24 are rocked in a clockwise direction by shaft 2|, the springs 28 will rock the arms 26 in the same direction and will cause lelevation of the carriers I2.

The manner in which the type bar assemblies comprising carriers I2 and heads I3 are constructed to permit relative movement will now be explained, after which the zoning mechanism whereby such relative movement is effected will be set forth briefly.

'I'he carrier I2 is shown in Fig. 4 as being pro- 75 vided with a slot 23 and a guide 30 which are adapted to receive a slotted block 3| and the lower end 32 respectively of the type head I3, the block sliding within the slot 23 and the lower end 32 sliding in the guide 30. A spring 33 whose lower end is anchored to the carrier I2 is provided at its upper end with a hooked member which engages the lower edge of an opening in the shank of the type head I3, the spring 33 tending to resiliently hold the head I3 in cooperation with the carrier I2.

` the` slide 36 tends to move the slide downwardly to bring a shoulder 40 in the slide into engagement with a bock 4I riveted to the carrier I2. With the parts assembled as in Fig. 4, the spring 39 draws the slide 36 downwardly and spring 33 urges the type head I3 in the same direction so that the lower end 32 thereof engages the slide 36.

It is plain that, if the slide 36 is moved up wardly relative to carrier I2, the head I3 will move likewise.

A spring-pressed latch 42 pivoted at the lower end of the carrier I2 is adapted to cooperate with three should'er stops 43 formed in the slide 36. When the slide is moved upwardly one or more steps with respect to the carrier, the latch 42 will cooperate with one of the steps 43 to hold vthe parts in their displaced relationship. The

manner in which such displacement is auotmatically effected under control of the zone periora tions in the card will now be explained.

Associated with each alphabetic type bar assembly is a vertically slidable comb 44 which is adapted to be moved downwardly and then upwardly during each cycle of the machine. Each comb has a series of three stops or lugs 45 which on the upward movement of the comb passes a stopping pawl 46 in synchronism with the passage of the zone perforations 0,"11 and l2 by the upper analyzing brushes of the machine. Each pawl 46 is controlled by a zone magnet 41, the energization of which operates its amature to release pawl 46, allowing the latter to be moved by its spring intoengagement with one of-the stops 46. By this action, further up ward movement of the comb 44 is prevented for the time being. 'I'he combs 44 are moved upwardly by means of a spring 6I and moved downwardly by a bail 62 secured to a shaft 63. The bail engages the upper ends of the combs and moves the latter downwardly whenever the shaft 63 is rocked at the proper time by a suitable cam (not shown).

The comb 44 has pivoted thereto an arm 66 whose free end lies in the path of movement of the associated slider 36 and whose lower edge rests upon a bail 66 which is pivoted at 61. Under control of the zone perforations the pivot point of arm 66 may take one of three positions below that of Fig. 4. In this ligure the parts are shown with the comb in the position it assumes when no zone holes are present in the card; that is, when numerals only are to be printed. When the carrier I2 is in its lowermost position, the bail 66 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction to move the arm 66 in a similar direction into engagement with the lower extremity of slide 36. It will be apparent that the distance which the free end of arm 66 is moved upwardly under control of the bail 56 depends upon the location of the pivot point of arm 55 at such time. Thus, if the pivot point is located 4as shown in Fig. 4, the free end of arm 55 will be moved upwardly to a position where it barely touches slide 36. A zone perforation in the index point position will result in the movement of the free end of arm 55 three steps upwardly from the position of Fig. 4. A perforation in the 11 position will cause it to move two steps, while a perforation in the 12 position will cause it to move only one step above the position in Fig. 4. These steps of movement are, of course, transmitted to the slide 36 and it, in turn, will be moved upwardly one, two, or three steps in accordance with the setting of the related comb 44, the latch 42 carried by the carrier |2 serving to hold the slide at its displaced position with respect to the carrier.

Bail 56 is actuated through the medium of a v toggle mechanism comprising links 58, one of which is pivoted to the bail and the other is pivoted to an arm 6|. The point of connection of the links 58 carries an arm 62 which is also pivoted to an arm 64 secured upon a cross shaft 65. 'Ihe shaft 65 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction once each card cycle by a suitable cam (not shown) thus tending t0 straighten the toggle comprising links 58.

An arm 66 carried by a rod 61 is adapted to be rocked to the solid line position of Fig. 4 prior to the straightening of the toggle links 58. When shaft 65 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction under control of its cam, the right end of arm 6| will be engaged by arm 66 so that the pivot point of the toggle will be restrained against downward movement and subsequently straightening of the toggle will cause the bail 56 to rock in a counterclockwise direction.

It will be understood from the foregoing description and the more detailed explanation found in Patent No. 2,016,682 that in the case where a perforation occurs in one of the 1 to v9 index point positions only, the mechanism controlled by the zone magnets 41 will not be effective to shift slide 36 relative to carrier l2 and the type assembly will be arrested differentially, purely by the operation of print magnet 20, as in former Hollerith tabulating machines. On the other hand, if a zone perforation also appears in the 0, 11 or 12 positions, the magnet 41 will be effective in conjunction with magnet 20 to control the zoning mechanism, as described, to cause selection of one of the three alphabet type separating numeral type.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the circuits involved when a column contains only a single character will now be described. A plug connection 10 is made between sockets 1| and 12 and a second connection |04 is made between sockets 14 and l corresponding to the same card column.

Thereafter, as the card is advanced to pass the rows of sensing brushes LB and UB, a zone selecting circuit will be completed as the "0, 11 and "12 indx point positions pass the rst set of brushes. rIhis circuit is traceable as follows: from left side of line 16, common contact bar 11, 0, "11 or 12 hole in the card, brush UB, wire 18, socket 1|, connection 10, socket 12, zone selecting magnet 41, cam contacts G (closed while position 0, 11 or "12" are sensed) to right side of line 19. Later, as the digit po-l 18, cam contacts K, wire |06, common contact bar |02, hole in the l to 9" positions, socket 14, connection |04, socket 15, magnet 20, wire |01 to left side of line 16.

These are the usual circuits completed to select an alphabetic character as described above and in the patent referred to. If the columnv contains only a digit perforation, then, of course, no zone selecting circuit would be completed and the magnet 20 alone would be energized to select the appropriate digit type for printing.

Before describing the mechanism of the inven tion'proper, a detailed explanation will be given of the improved record card to point out the essentlal characteristics thereof. An example of such a card is shown in Fig. 1 and for purposes of clearness the holes shown in two different manners. 'I'he holes having no sectioning relate only to the characters printed on the upper line designated 84 and the holes having section lines therein relate only to the digits printed on the lower line designated 85. i

The perforations related to the upper line of i printing 84 are made in the normal manner. Those relating to the line 85 are punched in the positions intermediate the normal positions, In Iig. l, the holes relating to line 85 are sectioned to better distinguish them; Where the same digit position is used for both lines 84 and 85, they form a single hole of double length as where A and l are punched in the same column.

The only change in present machines required to sense the card of Fig. 1 is to substitute for a single line of brushes LB a double line LB and LBa as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each with a separate common bar |02 and |03 respectively. The brushes are spaced a distance apart equal to half the distance between two successive index point positions so that, when brushes LB are on the 9 position related to line 84, brushes LBa will be on the intermediate 9 position related to line 85.

Plug connections |04 are then made as in Fig, 6 from sockets 14 connected to brushes LB to sockets 15 of magnets 20 that are to control .printing in accordance with line 84 and connections |05 are made from sockets 14 connected to brushes LBa to sockets 15 of magnets 20 that are to control printing in accordance with line 85. Contacts K are timed as in Fig. 7 to make as each pair of like item representing holes are at their respective brushes and break between sensing positions.

A similar double brush UB and UBa is provided so that the zoning perforations may also be doubled to permit alphabetic data to be represented on both lines 84 and 85 and the brushes connected in the same way as for the lower brushes LB and LBa.

In the arrangement shown, provision is made to take care of alphabetic characters in only the upper line as contacts G are timed (see Fig. 7) to be closed during the sensing of the positions 0, 11 and 12, and only one set of sockets 1I (related to brushes UB) or sockets 1|a (related to brushes UBa) may be connected to sockets 12 or 12a. However, it is obvious that, if contactsY G will be timed to close and open again for each of the zone positions in the same manner as contacts K, then alphabetic designations could be read for both lines 84 and 85. For present commercial purposes, eighty columns of alphabetic data. along either the upper line 84 or the lower line 85 are sumcient.

Tracing of an example will make the simplicity numeral "1. When the "12 hole of the letter A is at brush UB, a circuit will be completed through the selected zone magnet 41 in the usual.

manner. When the "1 hole of the letter A is at brush LB, the "1 hole of the numeral will be at brush I Ba and closure of contacts K at this time will complete a circuit from 4line 19 (Fig. 6), contacts K, wire |06, common |02, brush LB, socket 14, connection |04, socket 15, to magnet 20 o i' line I4, and wire |01 to line 10. Concurrently a circuit runs from line |08, common |00, brush LBa, socket 14, connection |05, socket 15 and magnet 20 of line 85 and wire |01 to line 16. As a result both the letter A and numeral lf will be concurrently printed when the type hammers are tripped to print each in the column of the report sheet selected to receive the same.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and de` tails of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

In a printing machine controlled by a record card containing a column having a group oi spaced index point positions, and a second group of spaced index point positions intermediate the positions oi' the nrst set, in which column a designation may be made in each group to represent two separate items, a separate sensing element for each group of index point positions, comprising two stationary contact brushes spaced in the direction of the card column an amount equal to the distance between adjacent index point positions of the two groups, mechanism for moving the card past the pair of contact brushes. devices for controlling the eillec-` tain a designation.

WILLIAM LANG. 

